US9398644B2 - Radio-frequency heating apparatus and radio-frequency heating method - Google Patents

Radio-frequency heating apparatus and radio-frequency heating method Download PDF

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US9398644B2
US9398644B2 US13/382,318 US201013382318A US9398644B2 US 9398644 B2 US9398644 B2 US 9398644B2 US 201013382318 A US201013382318 A US 201013382318A US 9398644 B2 US9398644 B2 US 9398644B2
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radio
phase
mode
geometry
frequency
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US20120103975A1 (en
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Toshiyuki Okajima
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Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/6447—Method of operation or details of the microwave heating apparatus related to the use of detectors or sensors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/70—Feed lines
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/70—Feed lines
    • H05B6/705—Feed lines using microwave tuning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/72—Radiators or antennas
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
    • Y02B40/146—

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a radio-frequency heating apparatus and a radio-frequency heating method for heating an object placed in a heating chamber.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses a microwave oven which has a radiation antenna on the outer periphery of an emission antenna.
  • a state in which the emission antenna is radio-frequency coupled with the radiation antenna, and a state in which the emission antenna is not radio-frequency coupled with the radiation antenna are controlled, and apparent size of the antenna is changed so that a state in which microwave is supplied to a small region in a concentrated manner, and a state in which microwave is uniformly distributed are controlled.
  • Patent Literature 2 discloses a microwave oven which is provided with a plurality of rotation antennas and a unit to detect a temperature distribution of an object. This microwave oven detects the temperature distribution of the object, and determines a portion of the object to be heated based on the detected temperature distribution information, and rotates a rotation antenna accordingly to control the directivity of the antenna.
  • Patent Literature 3 discloses a microwave oven which is provided with a plurality of flat antennas, and varies the phase of the microwave to be supplied to the flat antennas, then changes the directivity of the microwave radiated from the flat antennas, thereby stirring the microwave without using a stirrer.
  • Patent Literatures 1 and 2 the geometry and direction of the antennas are physically changed, and thus a device which mechanically drives the antennas is needed.
  • This configuration causes the apparatus to increase in size and cost.
  • the location of each antenna is unstable and the probability of failure tends to increase.
  • Patent Literature 3 because the directivity of the microwave is controlled electrically, above-mentioned unstable elements due to mechanical configuration and/or a configuration leading to size increase of the apparatus may be avoided.
  • the microwave when the microwave is stirred, the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity in the entire heating chamber becomes an averaged, uniform distribution state independently of the geometry of the object. That is to say, the region where the object exists is not heated in a concentrated manner, and thus the microwave is wasted, thereby providing no direct improvement in heating efficiency. That is to say, heating of an object requires long time.
  • the microwaves radiated from an antenna are reflected in the heating chamber in a complicated manner. Therefore, even when the directivity of the antenna is controlled, the behavior of the microwave radiated from the antenna is completely different from the directivity of a far-field in free space. Consequently, it is difficult to control a heat distribution by controlling the directivity of the antenna.
  • the present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio-frequency heating apparatus and a radio-frequency heating method that can heat an object efficiently and uniformly according to the geometry of the object in the radio-frequency heating apparatus which heats an object placed in a heating chamber.
  • a radio-frequency heating apparatus for heating an object placed in a heating chamber, and includes: a radio-frequency power generation unit configured to generate radio-frequency power; a phase varying unit configured to vary a phase of radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit; a plurality of antennas which are placed on a same plane in the heating chamber and radiate a plurality of radio-frequency waves to the object, the radio-frequency waves having a predetermined phase difference caused by phase variation in the phase varying unit; a geometry information acquisition unit configured to acquire geometry information indicating a geometry of the object; and a control unit configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in phase in a first mode, and configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in opposite phase in a second mode, wherein the control unit is configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode based on the geometry information acquired by the geometry information
  • radio-frequency power is radiated from a plurality of antennas with an appropriate phase difference based on the geometry information of an object acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit. Consequently, a distribution of intensity of an electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, which is suitable to the geometry of the object may be formed in the heating chamber, and thus the object may be efficiently and uniformly heated in accordance with the geometry of the object.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field in the heating chamber has the same intensity area extending in the direction parallel to the same plane on which a plurality of antennas are placed, and thus is layered in the vertical direction.
  • the distribution has the same intensity area extending in the direction vertical to the same plane on which a plurality of antennas are placed, and thus is layered in the horizontal direction.
  • the object is efficiently and uniformly heated when the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber matches with the geometry of the object.
  • the object may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the predetermined phase difference is substantially 0 degree, and when the radio-frequency waves are in opposite phase, the predetermined phase difference is substantially 180 degrees.
  • control unit may be configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode during heating so that a ratio between a time period for the first mode and a time period for the second mode is increased in accordance with an increase in a ratio between a dimension of the object in a direction parallel to the same plane, and a dimension of the object in a direction perpendicular to the same plane.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber has the same intensity area extending in the direction parallel to the same plane, and thus is layered in the vertical direction. Consequently, the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity is well suited to the geometry of the object, and thus the object can be uniformly heated securely with efficiency.
  • control unit may be configured to switch to the first mode when a ratio between the dimension of the object in a direction parallel to the same plane, and the dimension of the object in a direction perpendicular to the same plane is greater than or equal to a first value which is greater than 1, and may be configured to switch to the second mode when the ratio is less or equal to a second value which is less than 1.
  • the object can be heated uniformly with efficiency in a simple manner without performing complicated control by the control unit.
  • control unit may be configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode during heating so as to set the time period for the first mode to be approximately equal to the time period for the second mode when the ratio between the dimension of the object in a direction parallel to the same plane, and the dimension of the object in a direction perpendicular to the same plane is substantially 1.
  • the object can be heated uniformly with efficiency.
  • control unit may be configured to identify the ratio between the dimension of the object in a direction parallel to the same plane, and the dimension of the object in a direction perpendicular to the same plane based on the geometry information acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit, and to switch between the first mode and the second mode based on the identified ratio.
  • control unit may be configured to switch to the first mode when the object is a food served on a plate, and may be configured to switch to the second mode when the object is sake in a sake bottle.
  • control unit may alternately repeat the first mode and the second mode.
  • the object on the cross-section with a plane parallel to the same plane on which a plurality of antennas are placed is heated uniformly with efficiency
  • the object on the cross-section with a plane perpendicular to the same plane is heated uniformly with efficiency. That is to say, in the first mode and the second mode altogether, the object is heated uniformly with efficiency on the whole.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit may be a sensor which detects a contour shape and dimensions of the object.
  • the geometry information includes, for example, the base area and the height of the object.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit may be a geometry selection button which receives designation of a geometry of the object by a user.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit can be simplified and the control can be also simplified.
  • the antennas may be flat antennas.
  • the antenna can be installed in a small space, the apparatus can be miniaturized.
  • a radio-frequency heating apparatus for heating an object placed in a heating chamber, and includes: a radio-frequency power generation unit configured to generate radio-frequency power; a phase varying unit configured to vary a phase of radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit; a plurality of antennas which are placed on a same plane in the heating chamber and are configured to radiate a plurality of radio-frequency waves to the object, the radio-frequency waves having a predetermined phase difference caused by phase variation in the phase varying unit; and a control unit configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in phase in a first mode, and configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in opposite phase in a second mode, wherein the control unit is configured to alternately switch between the first mode and the second mode.
  • the present invention can be achieved not only as an apparatus but also a radio-frequency heating method which includes the steps performed by the processing units that constitutes the apparatus.
  • an object can be uniformly heated with efficiency according to the geometry of the object.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of a radio-frequency power generation unit.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of a radio-frequency power generation unit using PLL.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a first operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 6A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the in-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • FIG. 7A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 105 mm.
  • FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the in-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 105 mm.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 120 mm.
  • FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the in-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 120 mm.
  • FIG. 9A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus having four antennas, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the in-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus having four antennas, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the opposite-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm, shown in FIG. 6A .
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the opposite-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 105 mm, shown in FIG. 7A .
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the opposite-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 120 mm, shown in FIG. 8A .
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the opposite-phase mode in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus having four antennas, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm, shown in FIG. 9A .
  • FIG. 14A is a diagram schematically showing an example of the manner how a flat-shaped object is placed in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus.
  • FIG. 14B is a diagram schematically showing an example of the manner how a vertically oriented object is placed in the heating chamber of the radio-frequency heating apparatus.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a second operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a matrix with which heating operation time periods ta and tb are determined based on geometry information in Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 18 is an overall perspective view of the radio-frequency heating apparatus having a geometry selection button, according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 3.
  • a radio-frequency heating apparatus is a radio-frequency heating apparatus for heating an object placed in a heating chamber, and includes: a radio-frequency power generation unit configured to generate radio-frequency power; a phase varying unit configured to vary a in phase of radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit; a plurality of antennas which are placed on a same plane in the heating chamber and radiate a plurality of radio-frequency waves to the object, the radio-frequency waves having a predetermined phase difference caused by phase variation in the phase varying unit; a geometry information acquisition unit configured to acquire geometry information indicating a geometry of the object; and a control unit configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in phase in a first mode, and configured to control the phase varying unit so that the radio-frequency waves are in opposite phase in a second mode, wherein the control unit is configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode based on the geometry information acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus radiates radio-frequency waves from a plurality of antennas with an appropriate phase difference based on the geometry information of an object acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit. Consequently, a distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, which is suitable to the geometry of the object can be formed in the heating chamber, the object can be uniformly heated with efficiency in accordance with the geometry of the object.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.
  • an object 150 which is heated by the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 is also shown.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 includes a heating to chamber 101 , a distribution unit 102 , a first and second phase varying units 103 a , 103 b , a first antenna 104 a , a second antenna 104 b , a radio-frequency power generation unit 110 , a geometry information acquisition unit 120 , and a control unit 130 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 has two antennas and two phase varying units, however, the number of antennas and phase varying units is not limited to this.
  • the first phase varying unit 103 b , the second phase varying unit 103 b , the first antenna 104 a , and the second antenna 104 b may be expressed as the phase varying unit 103 b , the phase varying unit 103 b , the antenna 104 a , and the antenna 104 b , respectively.
  • the heating chamber 101 is a housing in which an object 150 is placed and is composed of, for example, metal.
  • the distribution unit 102 distributes the radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 into two parts.
  • a wilkinson divider may be used, or any of a hybrid coupler and a resistor divider may be used.
  • the phase varying units 103 a , 103 b change respective phases of the radio-frequency power inputted via the distribution unit 102 into the phases designated by the control unit 130 , and radiate respective radio-frequency waves to the heating chamber via corresponding antennas 104 a , 104 b . That is to say, the phase varying units 103 a , 103 b change respective phases of inputted radio-frequency power, thereby generating a predetermined phase difference between two radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a , 104 b .
  • phase varying units 103 a , 103 b change the respective phases of the radio-frequency power in accordance with phase setting signals 105 a , 105 b each indicating the phase setting inputted from the control unit 130 .
  • phase setting signals 105 a , 105 b each indicating the phase setting inputted from the control unit 130 .
  • a bit step variable phase shifter or a continuous variable phase shifter may be used as the phase varying units 103 a , 103 b.
  • a bit step variable phase shifter (for example, 3-bit step variable phase shifter) is used for digital control, and the amount of phase shift in several steps is controlled stepwise by a combination of channel switching.
  • the amount of phase shift is determined based on the phase setting signals 105 a , 105 b each indicating the phase setting inputted from the outside.
  • a continuous variable phase shifter is used for analog voltage control, and is known as, for example, a loaded-line phase shifter using a transmission line or a hybrid-coupled phase shifter using a 90-hybrid coupler.
  • each phase shifter reflection phases of two resonant circuits are changed by varying the reverse bias voltage of a varactor diode, and thus inserted phase shift between input and output is changed.
  • the amount of the inserted phase shift is determined based on the phase setting signals 105 a , 105 b each indicating the phase setting inputted from the outside.
  • the antennas 104 a and 104 b are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b , and radiate radio-frequency waves having a predetermined phase difference, which is generated by the corresponding phase varying units 103 a , 103 b .
  • the antennas 104 a and 104 b are mounted in the bottom surface of the heating chamber 101 .
  • the antennas 104 a and 104 b are mounted in the bottom surface of the heating chamber 101 , however the configuration is not limited to this, and as long as all the antennas are mounted on the same surface, the antennas may be mounted on the top surface, a lateral surface, or the back surface.
  • a flat antenna such as a circular patch antenna or a rectangular patch antenna may be used for the antennas 104 a and 104 b . Consequently, the antennas 104 a and 104 b can be made thin and compact, and thus the degree of freedom in the design of the apparatus increases, while the apparatus is reduced in size and cost.
  • the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 generates in radio-frequency power having a predetermined frequency.
  • the radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 is input to the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b via the distribution unit 102 .
  • the specific configuration of the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 is described later.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit 120 acquires the geometry information indicating the geometry of an object 150 , and outputs a geometry information signal 106 representing the acquired geometry information to the control unit 130 .
  • the geometry information acquisition unit 120 is disposed inside the Radio-Frequency heating apparatus 100 as a single unit or as multiple units, and serves as, for example, an infrared sensor or a laser sensor which detects the geometry of the object 150 in a noncontact manner.
  • the infrared sensor or the laser sensor irradiates an object with infrared rays or a laser beam, and obtains the geometry information of the object by detecting reflected rays.
  • the technology of infrared sensor or laser sensor is publicly known, and in addition to a point sensor and a line sensor, recently, a variety of two-dimensional sensors and three-dimensional sensors are available on the market.
  • the control unit 130 controls the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b in the first mode are in phase, and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b in the second mode are in opposite-phase.
  • in-phase means that the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b is 0 degree
  • opposite-phase means that the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b is 180 degrees.
  • control unit 130 is connected to first phase varying unit 103 a and the second phase varying unit 103 b via the control line, and controls the phases of the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b . More specifically, the control unit 130 outputs the phase setting signals 105 a and 105 b to the first phase varying unit 103 a and the second phase varying unit 103 b , respectively, the phase setting signals 105 a and 105 b each indicating the phase setting.
  • the control unit 130 controls the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b to generate a phase difference of 0 degree between the phases of the radio-frequency waves radiated from antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b in the first mode, and to generate a phase difference of 180 degrees in the second mode.
  • the state in which the phase settings of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b are determined so as to generate a difference of 0 degree between the phases of the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b is referred to as an in-phase mode.
  • the state in which the phase settings of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b are determined so as to generate a difference of 180 degrees between the phases of the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b is referred to as an opposite-phase mode. That is to say, the first mode matches the period in the in-phase mode, and the second mode matches the period in the opposite-phase mode.
  • the control unit 130 identifies the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction perpendicular to the plane, based on the geometry information that is acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit 120 , and switches between the first mode and the second mode based on the identified ratio.
  • the control unit 130 may identify the ratio between the dimension of the projected view of the object 150 on one of the lateral surfaces of the heating chambers 101 , and the dimension of the projected view of the object 150 on the bottom surface, and may determine the period is for the in-phase mode and the period for the opposite-phase mode based on the identified ratio.
  • control unit 130 identifies the ratio between the dimension of the projected view of the object 150 on one of the lateral surfaces of the heating chambers 101 , and the dimension of the projected view of the object 150 on the bottom surface, and determines the period for the in-phase mode and the period for the opposite-phase mode based on the identified ratio.
  • control unit 130 controls the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 a and the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna 104 b in the in-phase mode is 0 degree, and the difference in the opposite-phase mode is 180 degrees.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 .
  • the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 shown in the figure has an oscillation unit 111 and an amplification unit 112 .
  • the oscillation unit 111 is a general radio-frequency oscillator circuit which includes a semiconductor amplifying device such as a transistor, and a resonant circuit such as a tank circuit.
  • the configuration of the oscillation unit 111 is publicly known, and a Hartley oscillator circuit, or a Colpitts oscillator circuit may be used.
  • the amplification unit 112 is, for example, a transistor which amplifies the radio-frequency power generated by the oscillation unit 111 .
  • the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 may be configured to serve as a variable frequency power generation unit using a phase locked loop (PLL).
  • PLL phase locked loop
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 using PLL.
  • the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 shown in the figure has an oscillation unit 113 , a phase locked loop 114 , and an amplification unit 112 .
  • the oscillation unit 113 is, for example, a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) which generates a radio-frequency signal having a frequency according to the voltage outputted from the phase locked loop 114 .
  • VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator
  • the phase locked loop 114 adjusts its output voltage so that the frequency of the radio-frequency power generated by the oscillation unit 113 has the same value as a frequency control signal 115 inputted from the control unit 130 , which indicates a frequency setting.
  • the amplification unit 112 is, for example, a transistor which amplifies the radio-frequency power generated by the oscillation unit 113 .
  • the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 generates radio-frequency power having a predetermined frequency.
  • a single amplification unit 112 is shown as a power amplifier in FIGS. 2 and 3
  • a plurality of power amplifiers may be provided in a multi-stage series connection or a parallel connection configuration in order to obtain high and large output power.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 switches between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode based on the geometry information acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit 120 .
  • the geometry information indicates the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the bottom surface, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 .
  • the geometry information acquisition unit 120 acquires the geometry information of the object 150 (step S 101 ).
  • the geometry information acquisition units 120 is, for example, an infrared laser sensor or a laser sensor, and acquires the geometry information of the object 150 .
  • the geometry information acquisition unit 120 outputs the geometry information signal 106 representing the acquired geometry information to the control unit 130 .
  • the control unit 130 identifies the aspect ratio of the lateral view of the object 150 based on the geometry information signal 106 inputted from the geometry information acquisition unit 120 (step S 102 ).
  • the aspect ratio is the ratio of the horizontal dimension to the vertical dimension of the object 150 . That is to say, the control unit 130 identifies the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction horizontal to the plane.
  • the horizontal dimension of the object 150 is defined by, for example, the longest distance between two points on the projection view of the object 150 on one of the lateral in surfaces, the two points in the direction parallel to the bottom surface.
  • the horizontal dimension may be defined by the longest distance between two points on the projection view of the object 150 on the bottom surface.
  • the vertical dimension of the object 150 is defined by, for example, the longest distance between two points on the projection view of the object 150 on one of the lateral surfaces, the two points in the direction vertical to the bottom surface. Otherwise, the vertical dimension may be the maximum height of the cross-sectional views in the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the object 150 .
  • control unit 130 determines the time period for the in-phase mode and the time period for the opposite-phase mode in accordance with the aspect ratio of the object 150 identified by identification process (step S 102 ).
  • control unit 130 maintains the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode for respective determined time periods, and thus the object 150 is heated accordingly (step S 104 ).
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 is a radio-frequency heating apparatus for heating an object 150 placed in a heating chamber 101 , and includes: a radio-frequency power generation unit 110 configured to generate radio-frequency power; phase varying units 103 a , 103 b configured to vary a phase of radio-frequency power generated by the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 ; a plurality of antennas 104 a , 104 b which are placed on a same plane in the heating chamber 101 and radiate a plurality of radio-frequency waves to the object 150 , the radio-frequency waves having a predetermined phase difference caused by phase variation in the phase varying units 103 a , 103 b ; a geometry information acquisition unit 120 configured to acquire geometry information indicating a geometry of the object 150 ; and a control unit 130 configured to control the phase varying units 103 a , 103 b so that the radio-frequency waves are in phase in a first mode, to and configured to control the phase varying units 103 a
  • radio-frequency waves are radiated from a plurality of antennas 104 a and 104 b with an appropriate phase difference based on the geometry information of the object 150 acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit 120 . Consequently, a distribution the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave that is suitable to the geometry of the object 150 may be formed in the heating chamber 101 , and thus the object 105 may be efficiently, evenly and uniformly heated in accordance with the geometry of the object 150 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 identifies the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the same plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction perpendicular to the same plane, and makes a plurality of radio-frequency waves in phase or the in opposite phase.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field in the heating chamber 101 has the same intensity area extending in the direction parallel to the same plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and thus is layered in the vertical direction.
  • the distribution has the same intensity area extending in the direction perpendicular to the same plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and thus is layered in the horizontal direction.
  • the object 150 is efficiently and uniformly heated when the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 matches with the geometry of the object 150 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 in identifies the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the same plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction perpendicular to the same plane, and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated by generating a distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave according to the identified ratio in the heating chamber 101 .
  • the operation makes a plurality of radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b in phase, while when the aspect ratio is less than or equal to a second value which is less than 1, the operation makes a plurality of radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b in opposite phase. That is to say, when the aspect ratio of the object 150 is greater than or equal to the first value, the radio-frequency waves are radiated in the in-phase mode, while the aspect ratio is less than or equal to the second value, the radio-frequency waves are radiated in the opposite-phase mode. Furthermore, when the aspect ratio is greater than the second value and less than the first value, the radio-frequency waves are alternately radiated in the in-phase mode and in the opposite-phase mode repeatedly.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the first operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 performs the following processing in the control unit 130 .
  • step S 400 when the object 150 is placed in the heating chamber 101 and an operation to start heating process is performed by a user (step S 400 ), the control unit 130 operates the geometry information acquisition unit 120 to acquire the geometry information of the object 150 (step S 401 ).
  • the process of acquiring the geometry information of the object 150 corresponds to the process of acquiring the geometry information of the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 101 ).
  • the geometry of the object 150 is determined based on the geometry information signal 106 inputted from the geometry information acquisition unit 120 (step S 402 ). Specifically, it is determined whether the object 150 has a flat geometry (geometry 1 ), vertically oriented geometry (geometry 2 ), or cube-like geometry (geometry 3 ) by identifying the aspect ratio of the object 150 . For example, the control unit 130 determines that the object 150 has a flat geometry when the identified ratio is greater than or equal to 3, or determines that the object 150 has a vertically oriented geometry when the identified ratio is less than or equal to 0.3, or determines that the object 150 has a cube-like geometry when the identified ratio is greater than 0.3 and less than 3.
  • the threshold values by which the control unit 130 determines the geometry of the object 150 are not limited to these values, and the object 150 may be determined to be flat geometry when the identified ratio is greater than or equal to 2, or the object 150 may be determined to be vertically oriented geometry when the identified ratio is less than or equal to 0.5, or the object 150 may be determined to be cube-like geometry when the identified ratio is greater than 0.5 and less than 2.
  • the process of determining the geometry information of the object 150 corresponds to the process of determining the geometry information of the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 102 ).
  • step S 402 When the geometry of the object 150 determined based on the geometry information signal 106 is flat (horizontally oriented) geometry (geometry 1 in step S 402 ), the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b are adjusted (step S 403 ) so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the in-phase mode, and then heating process is performed (step S 405 ).
  • performing heating process specifically means that radio-frequency waves are radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b in the in-phase mode.
  • the object 150 is heated.
  • the process performed when the geometry of the object 150 determined based on the geometry information signal 106 is flat geometry corresponds to the process performed when the time period for the opposite-phase mode is determined to be 0 in the process of determining the time period for the in-phase mode and the time period for the opposite-phase mode (step S 103 ) in FIG. 4 .
  • the control unit 130 determines whether or not heating of the object 150 is completed (step S 406 ), and when the heating is not completed (No in step S 406 ), the heating process is continued (step S 405 ). On the other hand, when the heating is completed (Yes in step S 406 ), the whole process is terminated (step S 412 ).
  • the control unit 130 measures the temperature of the object 150 using a temperature sensor in a noncontact manner, and determines that heating is completed when the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature (for example, 80 degrees).
  • the control unit 130 may acquire a heating time which is preset by a user, for example, and may determine that heating of the object 150 is completed when an elapsed time after the start of heating process reaches the heating time preset by the user.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 when the geometry of the object 150 is flat geometry, the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 always adjusts the phase difference so as to set the in-phase mode, the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 sets the time period for the opposite-phase mode to be 0 by adjusting the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b.
  • FIGS. 6A to 9B the distribution of the intensity of an electromagnetic field in the heating chamber 101 is described, the electromagnetic field being composed of a standing wave when the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the in-phase mode.
  • FIGS. 6A to 9B The distance between the antenna 104 a and the antenna 104 b and/or the number of antennas are different in the following pairs of figures: FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B , FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B , FIG. 8B and FIG. 8B , and FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B .
  • a difference exists only in the distance between antennas and the number of antennas, however the size of the heating chamber 101 , and the frequency of the radio-frequency waves radiated from each antenna are the same between the figures.
  • FIG. 6A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 , in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • two antennas 104 a and 104 b which are each formed of a circular patch having a diameter of 64.6 mm are disposed in the same bottom surface of the heating chamber 101 with the distance between the antenna centers of 90 mm.
  • the width (y dimension) is 410 mm
  • the depth (x dimension) is 314 mm
  • the height (z dimension) is 230 mm
  • the frequency of the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b is 2450 MHz.
  • FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 when radio-frequency waves are radiated in the in-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6A .
  • FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a simulation result of the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field in the heating chamber 101 when it is assumed that radio-frequency waves having a frequency of 2450 MHz are radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b where darker the area, more intense electromagnetic field is generated in the area.
  • An area where the electromagnetic field is more intense corresponds to an antinode of the standing wave, and an area where the electromagnetic field is less intense corresponds to a node of the standing wave.
  • FIG. 7A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 , in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 105 mm.
  • FIG. 7B is a diagram in showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 in the in-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 7A .
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 , in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 120 mm.
  • FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 in the in-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 8A .
  • FIG. 9A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 having four antennas, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm.
  • the phases of the radio-frequency waves radiated from all the antennas are the same in the in-phase mode.
  • FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 in the in-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 9A .
  • FIGS. 7B ( a ), 7 B( b ), FIGS. 8B ( a ), 8 B( b ), and FIGS. 9B ( a ), 9 B( b ) each show the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, on the planes at the same locations as in FIGS. 6B ( a ), 6 B( b ).
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 has the same intensity area extending in the horizontal direction, and thus is layered in the vertical direction.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 has the same intensity area extending in the direction parallel to the plane on which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and thus is layered in the vertical direction.
  • the region where the electromagnetic field is more intense and the region where the electromagnetic field is less intense extend in the horizontal direction, and thus the regions are layered in the vertical direction.
  • the phases of the radio-frequency waves radiated from the respective antennas 104 a and 104 b are in phase, and thus when the radio-frequency waves radiated from the respective antennas 104 a and 104 b interact with each other, the radio-frequency power is amplified.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the in-phase mode is suitable for heating an object having a flat geometry.
  • the details related to this point are described.
  • the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna are absorbed in the object.
  • the first channel is such that the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna are directly absorbed in the object (hereinafter, referred to as a direct incidence), and the absorption efficiency of the radio-frequency waves to the object is extremely high.
  • the second channel is such that the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antenna is reflected at least once on the wall surface in the heating chamber (hereinafter, referred to as a diffracted incidence).
  • the direct incidence may be more dominant in some cases, however, in most cases, the diffracted incidence is more dominant.
  • the rate of absorption of the radio-frequency waves into the object via diffracted incidence varies in accordance with the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave formed in the heating chamber. Absorption from the region where the electromagnetic field intensity is high is increased, while absorption from the region where the electromagnetic field intensity is low is decreased.
  • absorption of the radio-frequency waves to the object by the diffracted incidence can be made uniform.
  • the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b are adjusted so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the in-phase mode, and then heating process is performed. Accordingly, the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 is suitable to the geometry of the object 150 , and extends in the horizontal direction, and is layered in the vertical direction, and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the control unit 130 adjusts the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode (step S 404 ).
  • the process performed when the geometry of the object 150 determined based on the geometry information signal 106 is vertically oriented geometry corresponds to the process performed when the time period for the in-phase mode is determined to be 0 in the process of determining the time period for the in-phase mode and the time period for the opposite-phase mode (step S 103 ) in FIG. 4 .
  • step S 405 heating process is performed (step S 405 ), and when the heating is completed (Yes in step S 406 ), the whole process is terminated (step S 412 ).
  • step S 405 when the heating process is performed (step S 405 ) after setting the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b (step S 404 ) so that phase difference indicates the opposite-phase mode, the difference in the phases of the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 adjusts so that the difference in the phases of the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode. That is to say, when the aspect ratio is less than or equal to the second value, the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 sets the time period for the in-phase mode to be 0 by adjusting the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 is described provided that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 in the opposite-phase mode is described using FIGS. 10 to 13 .
  • the distance between the antenna 104 a and the antenna 104 b and/or the number of antennas are different.
  • FIGS. 10( a ), 10( b ) , FIGS. 11( a ), 11( b ) , FIGS. 12( a ), 12( b ) , FIGS. 13( a ), 13( b ) each show the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, on the planes at the same locations as in FIGS. 6B ( a ), 6 B( b ).
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 of the radio-frequency heating apparatus when radio-frequency waves are radiated in the opposite-phase mode, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm, shown in FIG. 6A .
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 in the opposite-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 105 mm, shown in FIG. 7A .
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 in the opposite-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 120 mm, shown in FIG. 8A .
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 in the opposite-phase mode in the radio-frequency heating apparatus having four antennas, in which the center distance between adjacent antennas is 90 mm, shown in FIG. 9A .
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 has the same intensity area cylindrically extending in the vertical direction, and thus is layered in the horizontal direction.
  • the distribution has the same intensity area cylindrically extending in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and thus is layered in the horizontal direction. That is to say, the region where the electromagnetic field is more intense and the region where the electromagnetic field is less intense extend in the vertical direction, and thus the regions are layered in the horizontal direction.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field suited to the geometry of the object needs to be formed.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, extending in the vertical direction when radio-frequency waves are radiated from the antennas in the opposite-phase mode is suitable for heating of an object having vertically oriented geometry.
  • the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b are adjusted so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode, and then heating process is performed. Accordingly, the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 is suitable to the geometry of the object 150 , and cylindrically extends in the vertical direction and is layered in the horizontal direction, and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the control unit 130 adjusts the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the in-phase mode (step S 407 ).
  • the process performed when the geometry of the object 150 determined based on the geometry information signal 106 is cube-like geometry corresponds to the process performed when the time period for the in-phase mode is determined to be ta, and the time period for the opposite-phase mode is determined to be tb in the process of determining the time period for the in-phase mode and the time period for the opposite-phase mode (step S 103 ) in FIG. 4 .
  • control unit 130 adjusts the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode (step S 409 ).
  • Step S 411 similarly to the case when the geometry of the above-described object 150 is determined to be flat geometry (geometry 1 in step S 402 ) or vertically oriented geometry (geometry 2 in step S 402 ), it is determined whether or not heating is completed (step S 411 ). Steps S 403 to S 411 correspond to the process of heating the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 104 ).
  • step S 411 When the heating is not completed (No in step S 411 ), the heating process in the in-phase mode and the heating process in the opposite-phase mode are alternately repeated with predetermined time periods ta and tb, respectively (steps S 407 to S 411 ). On the other hand, when the heating is completed (Yes in step S 411 ), the whole process is terminated (step S 412 ).
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 adjusts the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b so as to alternately switch between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode with predetermined time periods, and then performs heating process.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 adjusts the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b so as to alternately switch between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode.
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave, in the heating chamber 101 alternately forms the state where the distribution extends in the horizontal direction and is layered in the vertical direction, and the state where the distribution cylindrically extends in the vertical direction and is layered in the horizontal direction. Consequently, when the object 150 has a cube-like geometry, the radio-frequency waves due to the diffracted incidence are uniformly absorbed by the entire object 150 , and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the above-described first operation sets the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b to indicate the in-phase mode
  • the operation sets the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b to indicate the opposite-phase mode.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 adjusts the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b so as to alternately switch between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode.
  • the object 150 has a relatively flat (horizontally oriented) geometry such as food served on a plate or steak meat wrapped in a wrap, heating is performed by setting the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b to indicate the in-phase mode.
  • heating is performed by setting the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b to indicate the opposite-phase mode.
  • the control unit 130 sets the time period for the in-phase mode to be 0 by adjusting the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b .
  • the control unit 130 sets the time period for the in-phase mode to be 0 by adjusting the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b .
  • the control unit 130 alternately switches between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode by adjusting the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b.
  • heating process can be performed in a state where distribution with an appropriate electromagnetic field intensity is provided in accordance with the geometry of the object 150 , and thus the object may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the geometry of the object 150 is determined to be cube-like geometry (geometry 3 in step S 402 )
  • the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field, in the heating chamber 101 has the same intensity area extending in the direction parallel to the surface in which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and thus is layered in the vertical direction. Consequently, a distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity well suited to the geometry of the object 150 is provided, and thus the object 150 can be uniformly heated securely with efficiency.
  • heating is performed with the time period for the in-phase mode being longer than the time period for the opposite-phase mode; when the object 150 has a vertically oriented geometry, heating is performed with the time period for the opposite-phase mode being longer than the time period for the in-phase mode; and when the object 150 has a cube-like geometry, heating is performed with the time period for the in-phase mode being equal to the time period for the opposite-phase mode.
  • heating is performed with in-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b being equal to opposite-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b .
  • the aspect ratio of the object 150 identified by the control unit 130 is greater than 1, heating is performed with the in-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b being longer than the opposite-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b .
  • heating is performed with the in-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b being shorter than the opposite-phase time period for the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the second operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 performs the following process in the control unit 130 .
  • step S 700 when the object 150 is placed in the heating chamber 101 and an operation to start heating process is performed by a user (step S 700 ), the control unit 130 operates the geometry information acquisition unit 120 to acquire the geometry information of the object 150 (step S 701 ).
  • step S 701 corresponds to the process of acquiring the geometry information of the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 101 ) and the process of acquiring the geometry information of the object 150 by operating the geometry information acquisition unit 120 shown in FIG. 5 (step S 401 ).
  • the geometry of the object 150 is determined based on the geometry information signal 106 inputted from the geometry information acquisition unit 120 (step S 702 ). Specifically, it is determined whether the object 150 has a flat geometry (geometry 1 ), vertically oriented geometry (geometry 2 ), or cube-like geometry (geometry 3 ) by identifying the aspect ratio of the object 150 . For example, when the identified ratio is 1, the object 150 is determined to have cube-like geometry (geometry 3 ); when the identified ratio is greater than 1, the object 150 is determined to have flat geometry (geometry 1 ); and when the identified ratio is less than 1, the object 150 is determined to have vertically oriented geometry (geometry 2 ).
  • the identified ratio may be substantially 1, and is preferably in a range of 0.8 to 1.2, and is allowed to be in a range of 0.7 to 1.5.
  • the process of determining the geometry information of the object 150 corresponds to the process of determining the geometry information of the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 102 ).
  • the process (steps S 703 to S 705 ) in which the values of ta and tb of are set is another example of the process of determining the time period for the in-phase mode and in the time period for the opposite-phase mode shown in FIG. 4 (step S 103 ).
  • the process corresponds to the determination of the geometry of the object 150 based on the geometry information signal 106 , followed by the determination of the time period ta for the in-phase mode, and the time period tb for the opposite-phase mode in accordance with the determined geometry.
  • phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the in-phase mode (step S 706 ).
  • heating process is performed until the time ta elapses where ta has been set in the process (steps S 703 to S 705 ) in which the values of ta and tb of are set (step S 707 ).
  • the control unit 130 adjusts the phases of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b indicates the opposite-phase mode (step S 708 ). Then, heating process is performed until the time tb elapses where tb has been set in the process (steps S 703 to S 705 ) in which the values of ta and tb of are set (step S 709 ). Similarly to the first operation, it is determined whether or not heating is completed (step S 710 ).
  • step S 710 The process of repeating alternate switching (steps S 706 to S 710 ) between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode until heating is completed (Yes in step S 710 ) corresponds the process of heating the object 150 shown in FIG. 4 (step S 104 ).
  • step S 710 When the heating is not completed (No in step S 710 ), the heating process in the in-phase mode and the heating process in the opposite-phase mode are alternately repeated with predetermined time periods ta and tb, respectively (steps S 706 to S 710 ). On the other hand, when the heating is completed (Yes in step S 711 ), the whole process is terminated (step S 711 ).
  • the above-described second operation performs the following: when the object 150 has flat geometry, heating is performed with the time period for the in-phase mode being longer than the time period for the opposite-phase mode; when the object 150 has vertically oriented geometry, heating is performed with the time period for the opposite-phase mode being longer than the time period for the in-phase mode; and when the object 150 has cube-like geometry, heating is performed with the time period for the in-phase mode being equal to the time period for the opposite-phase mode.
  • heating process is performed by alternately switching between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode with the ratio of the time periods for the respective modes being changed in accordance with the geometry of the object 150 , which is radiated with the respective radio-frequency waves from the antennas 104 a and 104 b with the relevant phase difference.
  • heating process time period ta during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity extends horizontally and is layered vertically is longer than heating process time period tb during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity extends vertically and is layered horizontally.
  • the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity means the distribution of the intensity of the electromagnetic field composed of a standing wave in the heating chamber 101 . Consequently, uniform heating in the horizontal direction is performed in more-focused manner, while uniform heating in the vertical direction is performed, and thus the radio-frequency waves due to the diffracted incidence are uniformly absorbed by the entire object 150 , and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the heating process time period tb during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity cylindrically extends vertically and is layered horizontally is longer than the heating process time period ta during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity extends horizontally and is layered vertically. Consequently, uniform heating in the vertical direction is performed in more-focused manner, while uniform heating in the horizontal direction is performed, and thus the radio-frequency waves due to the diffracted incidence are uniformly absorbed by the entire object 150 , and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the heating process time period tb during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity cylindrically extends vertically and is layered horizontally is the same as the heating process time period ta during which the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity extends horizontally and is layered vertically. Because time period ta and time period tb are repeated with the same interval, uniform heating in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are repeated with the same ratio. Consequently, the radio-frequency waves due to the diffracted incidence are uniformly absorbed by the entire object, and thus the object may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 controls the phase setting of the phase varying units 103 a and 103 b based on the geometry information of the object 150 acquired by the geometry information acquisition unit 120 , thereby setting the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b . Therefore, heating process can be performed in a state where distribution with an appropriate electromagnetic field intensity is provided in accordance with the geometry of the object 150 , and thus the object 150 may be efficiently and uniformly heated.
  • the geometry of the object 150 is determined to be either one of the flat geometry (geometry 1 ), the vertically oriented geometry (geometry 2 ), and the cube-like geometry (geometry 3 ), however, the number of geometry to be determined is not limited to three, and may be increased by adding another geometry such as relatively flat geometry or relatively vertical oriented geometry.
  • geometry between the flat geometry and the vertically oriented geometry may be determined without steps, i.e., may be associated with the value of the ratio between the time period ta for heating in the in-phase mode, and the time period tb for heating in the opposite-phase mode.
  • the time period ta for radiation in the in-phase mode, and the time period tb for radiation in the opposite-phase mode are pre-defined in accordance with the aspect ratio of the object 150 , however, for example, when the identified aspect ratio of the object 150 is large, the ratio between the time period ta for radiation in the in-phase mode, and the time period tb for radiation in the opposite-phase mode may be increased accordingly.
  • the values of the above-described ta and tb corresponding to the ratio (Lh/Lv) between the average dimension (Lh) of the object 150 in the direction parallel to the plane where the antennas 104 a , 104 b are placed, and the average dimension (Lv) of the object 150 in the direction vertical to the plane may be defined in a matrix, which is stored in a memory or the like so that the above-described values ta and tb corresponding to the ratio (Lh/Lv) between the average dimension (Lh) in the horizontal direction and the average dimension (Lv) in the vertical direction may be read from the memory.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a matrix which defines values ta and tb corresponding to the ratio (Lh/Lv) between the average dimension (Lh) in the horizontal direction and the average dimension (Lv) in the vertical direction.
  • the radiation in the in-phase mode is performed in the above description, but the radiation in the opposite-phase mode may be performed first.
  • the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b is set as in-phase mode
  • the phase difference may be substantially 0 degree, and is preferably in a range of ⁇ 5 to +5 degrees, and the range of ⁇ 10 to +10 degrees is also allowed.
  • the phase difference between the radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 104 a and 104 b is set as opposite-phase mode
  • the phase difference may be substantially 180 degree, and is preferably in a range of ⁇ 175 to +185 degrees, and the range of ⁇ 170 to +190 degrees is also allowed.
  • the ratio between the dimension of the object 150 in the direction horizontal to the surface in which the antennas 104 a and 104 b are placed, and the dimension of the object 150 in the direction vertical to the surface is identified, however, the dimension of the object 150 in the vertical direction and the dimension of the object 150 in the horizontal vertical may be compared with each other, and according to a result of the comparison, it may be determined whether radiation in the in-phase mode, or radiation in the opposite-phase mode is performed. Specifically, when the dimension of the object 150 in the vertical direction is smaller than the dimension in the horizontal direction, the object 150 may be determined to have horizontally oriented geometry, and radiation in the in-phase mode may be performed.
  • the object 150 when the dimension of the object 150 in the vertical direction is larger than the dimension in the horizontal direction, the object 150 may be determined to have vertically oriented geometry, and radiation in the opposite-phase mode may be performed.
  • the dimension of the object 150 in the vertical direction is substantially equal to the dimension in the horizontal direction, the object 150 may be determined to have cube-like geometry, and radiation in the in-phase mode and radiation in opposite-phase mode may be alternately performed.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 in that the geometry information of an object is obtained by user operation. That is to say, the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 does not need user operation, for example, geometry information of the object is acquired by an infrared sensor or a laser sensor. On the other hand, the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to the present embodiment does not need a two-dimensional sensors or a three-dimensional sensors such as an infrared sensor or a laser sensor, and acquires the geometry information of the object by user operation.
  • FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 2.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus show in the figure is different from the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 in that the geometry information of an object 250 is obtained by user operation. That is to say, in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 , the control unit 130 identifies the geometry of the object 150 , however, in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 17 , the control unit 230 identifies the geometry of the object 250 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 is provided with respective geometry selection buttons for the cases of the object 250 having relatively flat (horizontally oriented) geometry such as food served on a plate or steak meat wrapped in a wrap, or having relatively vertical oriented geometry such as a cup or a sake bottle, or having cube-like geometry such as food piled up on a plate, or a deep range pack or a deep bowl, so that geometry information of the object may be acquired by pressing a relevant geometry selection button.
  • relatively flat (horizontally oriented) geometry such as food served on a plate or steak meat wrapped in a wrap
  • relatively vertical oriented geometry such as a cup or a sake bottle
  • cube-like geometry such as food piled up on a plate, or a deep range pack or a deep bowl
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 does not need the above-mentioned infrared sensor or laser sensor, thus the cost can be reduced and the apparatus can be miniaturized.
  • a heating chamber 201 , a distribution unit 202 , a first phase varying unit 203 a and a second phase varying unit 203 b , a first antenna 204 a , a second antenna 204 b , a radio-frequency power generation unit 210 shown in FIG. 17 correspond the heating chamber 101 , the distribution unit 102 , the first phase varying unit 103 a and second phase varying unit 103 b , the first antenna 104 a , the second antenna 104 b , and the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • FIGS. 18 and 19 The operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment is described using FIGS. 18 and 19 .
  • FIG. 18 is an overall perspective view of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 having a geometry selection button, according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 according to Embodiment 2.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit 220 acquires the geometry information of the object 250 (step S 201 ).
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 is provided with geometry selection buttons SB 1 and SB 2 , which receive a user's designation related to the geometry of the object 250 . That is to say, the geometry selection buttons SB 1 and SB 2 serve as the geometry information acquisition unit 220 .
  • the geometry selection button SB 1 receives a user's designation that the object 250 has a vertically oriented geometry
  • the geometry selection button SB 2 receives a user's designation that the object 250 has a horizontally oriented geometry.
  • the control unit 230 switches from the current mode to a pre-defined mode (in-phase mode or opposite-phase mode) in accordance with the geometry information (step S 202 ). Specifically, when the geometry selection button SB 1 receives a user's designation, the control unit 230 sets the phases of the phase varying units 203 a and 203 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 204 a and 204 b indicates the opposite-phase mode.
  • the control unit 230 sets the phases of the phase varying units 203 a and 203 b so that the phase difference between the respective radio-frequency waves radiated from the antennas 204 a and 204 b indicates the in-phase mode.
  • control unit 230 heats the object 250 in the switched mode (step S 203 ).
  • the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode may be switched from each other during heating process in order to achieve pre-defined ratio of time period according to a selected geometry selection button.
  • the interface of the geometry selection buttons SB 1 and SB 2 is not limited to the interface shown in FIG. 18 , and may be a dial button or a touch panel. Alternatively, there may be provided a button as a geometry selection button which receives a user's designation that the object 250 has cube-like geometry.
  • the geometry information acquisition unit may be provided with a geometry selection button which receive a user's designation related to the geometry of the object. Accordingly, the geometry information acquisition unit can be simplified and the control can be also simplified.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus is different from the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 and the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 according to Embodiment 2 in that the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode are switched from each other independently of geometry information. That is to say, Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 have a configuration in which the geometry information of the object is acquired, and then the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode are switched from each other based on the acquired geometry information, however, the present embodiment has a configuration in which the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode are always alternately switched from each other.
  • an infrared sensor, a geometry selection button operated by a user, and the like are not needed.
  • control based on the geometry information of the object is not needed, and thus the cost can be reduced and the apparatus can be miniaturized.
  • efficient, uniform, and stable heating can be achieved consistently without significantly depending on the geometry of the object and arrangement of the object in the heating chamber.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the radio-frequency heating apparatus according to Embodiment 3.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus 300 shown in the figure is different from the radio-frequency heating apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 and the radio-frequency heating apparatus 200 FIG. 17 in that the geometry information acquisition unit 120 and the geometry information acquisition unit 220 are not provided. That is to say, in the radio-frequency heating apparatus 300 , the control unit 330 alternately switches between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode with a predetermined ratio independently of the geometry information.
  • a heating chamber 301 , a distribution unit 302 , a first phase varying unit 303 a and a second phase varying unit 303 b , a first antenna 304 a , a second antenna 304 b , a radio-frequency power generation unit 310 shown in FIG. 20 correspond the heating chamber 101 , the distribution unit 102 , the first phase varying unit 103 a and second phase varying unit 103 b , the first antenna 104 a , the second antenna 104 b , and the radio-frequency power generation unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • the operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment is described using FIG. 21 .
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the radio-frequency heating apparatus 300 according to Embodiment 3.
  • the control unit 330 alternately switches between the in-phase mode and the opposite-phase mode with a predetermined ratio (step S 302 ).
  • the predetermined ratio is set depending on the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity in the in-phase mode, and the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity in the opposite-phase mode.
  • the ratio between the time period for the in-phase mode and the time period for the opposite-phase mode is preferably set in a range of 2:8 to 8:2. Then the control unit 330 heats the object 350 in one of the modes that are alternately switched (step S 303 ).
  • the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity shown in FIG. 6B, 7B, 8B , or 9 B, and the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity shown in FIG. 10, 11, 12 , or 13 are alternately formed with a predetermined ratio. Therefore, efficient, uniform, and stable heating can be achieved consistently even when the geometry of the object 350 is vertically long or flat.
  • the distribution of the electromagnetic field intensity is uniformly formed over the wide range in the heating chamber 301 .
  • the object 350 can be uniformly heated with efficiency without significantly depending on the arrangement of the object 350 in the heating chamber 301 .
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus has been described based on the embodiments, however, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. As long as not departing from the spirit of the present invention, modified embodiments obtained by making various modifications, which occur to those skilled in the art, to the present embodiment, and the embodiments that are constructed by combining the components of different embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.
  • a configuration may be adopted which includes an infrared sensor and a laser sensor which have been described in Embodiment 1 along with a geometry selection button shown in Embodiment 2.
  • the radio-frequency heating apparatus including a radio-frequency power generation unit, and a plurality of antennas which radiate radio-frequency waves to an object according to the present invention can uniformly heat the object with efficiency independently of the geometry of the object, and thus is useful for cooking household appliances such as a microwave oven.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)
  • Control Of High-Frequency Heating Circuits (AREA)
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EP2512206A1 (en) 2012-10-17
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US20120103975A1 (en) 2012-05-03

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